Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin

A fairy-tale reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red from the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin. Filled with stunning illustrations. Emily Winfield Martin -- reimagine[s] Brothers Grimm fairy tales, treating delight, with a few grisly bits folded in, as its own reward. The deeper meanings of these stories do emerge, but the pleasure they give is paramount. --The New York Times Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do. . . . Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants. Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon. But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow. This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells. In Snow & Rose, bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin retells the traditional but little-known fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. The beautiful full-color illustrations throughout and unusual yet relatable characters will bring readers back to this book again and again. Editorial Reviews Martin, ties up the story with a graceful, satisfying flourish. Her illustrations-a bear caught in a trap, his face a world of confused, hurt feelings, or Snow, Rose and their mother heading out on Christmas Day in cozy cloaks with pointed hoods-have a gentle folkloric navet, reminiscent of Tasha Tudor's work. They're very pretty but also suitably mysterious. - The New York Times Book Review - Stephanie Zacharek 08/14/2017 Sisters Snow and Rose once lived a charmed life in a grand house with a beautiful garden. After their father disappears into the woods, the girls and their mother are forced to move into a small cottage in the same forest. There, they befriend a boy named Ivo, discover a mysterious library filled not with books but objects, are tricked by a strange little man, and bond with a protective bear. Unfolding over episodic chapters that build to a well-deserved happy ending, this moody fairy tale emphasizes family, friendship, and the powerful bond of sisterhood. Martin's characterization of the two contrary sisters is especially moving: Rose is the type of person who holds on to a thing she loved as tightly as she could, while Snow wants to see or hear or taste something she loved over and over again, to remind herself that it was real. The sisters' contradictions make their relationship all the stronger, and Martin's prim full-color paintings and spot illustrations tenderly highlight key characters and moments. Ages 8-12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Oct.) - Publishers Weekly The writing is lyrical, with laudable word choice, alliteration, and imagery capturing the magic of the woods. For lovers of fairy tales, this story of sisterhood, taking risks, and being kind is a physically beautiful book with an appealing cover and captivating full-color illustrations.-Kirkus Reviews This moody fairy tale emphasizes family, friendship, and the powerful bond of sisterhood. Martin's characterization of the two contrary sisters is especially moving. -Publishers Weekly Like most of the Grimm brothers' tales, this peculiar story carries sinister overtones, but Martin does a nice job of keeping the dark atmosphere from overwhelming younger readers, largely though her whimsical touches.-Booklist - From the Publisher 05/01/2017 Gr 3-7--This adaptation of Snow White and Rose Red makes the classic fairy tale accessible and intriguing for today's readers. Sisters Snow and Rose are daughters of a nobleman who disappeared under troubling circumstances. Forced to vacate their grand residence after their father's presumed death, the girls must now live in a humble forest cottage with their grieving mother. The sisters explore the forest, narrowly escape dangers, discover a peculiar library, repeatedly rescue the strange Little Man, and befriend a young boy named Ivo. Something truly evil lurks in these woods, however, which accounts for the tragically frequent disappearances of locals--perhaps even for their father's disappearance. Each chapter has a vignette feel to it; some of the particularly poignant chapters demonstrate with masterly gentleness how people deal with loss in different ways. Several single pages, interspersed throughout the narrative, recount the prophecies, observations, and dialogue of the forest trees. These pages insert a dark mysteriousness into the flow of the story. Lovely pencil and watercolor illustrations accompany the text, lending a wispy, dreamlike quality to the tale. The suspenseful, dramatic action doesn't really start building until the last quarter of the book, but readers will realize details have been quietly dropped throughout the entire narrative that contribute to the climax and conclusion. VERDICT A solid purchase for most mid-size libraries. Fairy-tale fans will delight in this fascinating spin on a lesser-known tale.--Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL - School Library Journal Cassandra Campbell delightfully performs this retelling of a famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. In lilting, soft tones, she conveys the sweet innocence of Snow and Rose, two girls who find themselves living alone with their sorrow-filled mother after the disappearance of their father. Campbell's modulated voice combines with the sounds of birds and weather to bring out the magic and mystery of the forest in which the girls go wandering. Campbell's varied voices showcase the personalities of the characters the girls meet, such as the cheeky Ivo and the shrill little man whom they save but who only brings them trouble. Campbell's expert pacing creates tension during some of the suspenseful moments, heightening the drama to make this a captivating listen for older children and adults alike. M.F. AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine - OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile Cassandra Campbell delightfully performs this retelling of a famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. In lilting, soft tones, she conveys the sweet innocence of Snow and Rose, two girls who find themselves living alone with their sorrow-filled mother after the disappearance of their father. Campbell's modulated voice combines with the sounds of birds and weather to bring out the magic and mystery of the forest in which the girls go wandering. Campbell's varied voices showcase the personalities of the characters the girls meet, such as the cheeky Ivo and the shrill little man whom they save but who only brings them trouble. Campbell's expert pacing creates tension during some of the suspenseful moments, heightening the drama to make this a captivating listen for older children and adults alike. M.F. AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine - OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile 2017-07-02 Picture-book author/illustrator Martin (The Littlest Family's Big Day, 2016, etc.) offers a reimagined chapter-book version of a lesser-known Grimm fairy tale, Snow White and Red Rose.When their father fails to return from the woods, Snow, Rose, and their grieving mother must leave their wealthy home and move to a remote cabin in the woods. The sisters are opposite in temperament. Rose pictured herself as a tidy bow, and Snow was a wild tangle. Meandering off the path in the woods, they happen upon an Underground House, a curious library filled with objects rather than books and overseen by the Librarian, and a tunnel under tree roots that leads them to Ivo, a boy who grows mushrooms. Ivo tells them about the Menace of the Woods, who has caused many to disappear. The girls help a very cranky Little Man with backward-bending legs and a giant bear who is pursued by the Huntsman. Although the story nearly collapses under the weight and confusion of a horde of characters (the humans all apparently white), all is sorted out in the end. The writing is lyrical, with laudable word choice, alliteration, and imagery capturing the magic of the woods. For lovers of fairy tales, this story of sisterhood, taking risks, and being kind is a physically beautiful book with an appealing cover and captivating full-color illustrations. (Fantasy. 8-12) - Kirkus Reviews